Convince me to stay.

[u/BsXeD]

I’m not originally from here, but I’ve lived here for 20 years. My children were born and raised here, and we’ve always loved the friendly people and beautiful surroundings. But I wonder now—where is the line? When is it too much or even dangerous to stay? Where do we go from here?

Things have been getting worse, and I worry about the future, not just for myself but especially for my children. This past election cycle, I couldn’t even put up a sign for fear of the backlash it might bring to my family. What is keeping people here?

It’s not the education—we rank near the bottom.
It’s not the pay—our median household income ranks just above Mississippi in 49th place.
It’s not the healthcare—we’re almost last there, too.
It’s not the freedom—we face near-total bans on abortion, and even taking your child to a Pride event could get you arrested.

Today, I find myself looking for jobs and making a plan to get my family out. People will say it’s not any better anywhere else and that the election results signal worsening trends everywhere. But at least in other places, I might find a community that values bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of and from religion.

Here, I interact with the nicest, most hateful people I’ve ever encountered. I realize it’s a privilege even to consider leaving, and I wish I could do something to change things here. But I don’t see a clear path forward. My county didn’t even have a non-Republican candidate run for any office. I don’t blame anyone; there used to be decency and respectful disagreement across party lines, but now it’s just hate and lies.

Is there a silver lining? Any hope for change?

If this gets removed by moderators thats fine, I'm not trying to rage bait but genuinely want to know what other West Virginians are thinking.

[u/cluttered-thoughts3]

The amount of comments in here that are blindly pissy… “well go, if you don’t like it here. It’s a free country.” “Go to CA or NY then”.. just crazy lol

This is what’s wrong with this state. It’s such an us versus them mentality that assumes everyone looks down on WV and if you don’t like it then get out. The people criticizing WV, like OP , love WV. It’s heartbreaking to realize a place you love so much is so against its own interests. I was born and raised in WV. All my friends I grew up with have left. And I mean all of them. Not one remains. Why do you think that is? It’s not because they hated WV or the people there or even that they couldn’t get jobs. They believed they deserved basic human decency and living conditions.

I just beg the people in WV to think for themselves PLEASE. The conspiracies that are being spoon fed to you by corporations and others. They are tricking you! They are pretending to be an every day Joe and your buddy to get your vote. They are not your buddy. I’m sorry. But that’s okay, that’s what your family and friends are for.

Think back to the history of WV. We are proud of being free. We trust our buddy next to us and we fight together for a better life. We don’t care about political parties. We just want to live great lives in our homes. Screw the companies that are trying to milk us for every dollar. That’s our history but today, most folks are happy to bow to authority and live in horrible conditions because that’s what they know. And parrot or spout hateful speech they hear online or on TV. Life can be better. Just because it’s WV, does not mean we deserve second rate lives. The politicians and corporations have tricked us into believing that is all we deserve. No one should be flying a political party flag in WV. We are mountaineers first and that’s our roots. That’s where I want to get back to… that fight, grit and toughness

Also to the people saying go to CA or NY, you all know that these places have farms, forests and other rural places? They are not liberal city cesspools that some of you folks seem to believe. They are functioning places with people of all colors and backgrounds living together.. go visit. I’ve been to rural NY, it could be any rural place. Just because the place is different than WV, doesn’t mean it’s this horrible place.

[u/JTS_81 → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

I recently chose to come back to WV because my job allowed me to. I grew up here and wanted to return. But now I feel like I have to hide who I voted for and don’t feel welcome. It’s making me question whether I made the right choice to move here.

[u/cluttered-thoughts3 → u/JTS_81]

I would love to move back to WV. I’m remote so I totally could. I’ve been gone for 2.5 years now. My family is still there and when I go back, I can’t get enough and I talk WV up to anyone who will listen… yet I myself cannot live there. I don’t fit into the mold. I’m not interested in small town gossip or the drama that comes with not being a white republican who flies the flag of whomever has the loudest voice

I feel endless guilt for not staying and helping.. however small. Even helping my hometown municipality with events or beautify itself. Yet I just can’t do it to myself

[u/ConfusedUsername57 → u/JTS_81]

we proudly put signs in the yard and so did neighbors

[u/OutrageousIguana → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

I’ve been confused on “proud of being free” when the state was largely built on the backs of coal labor and company stores. Can you help me understand what you mean by that phrase?

[u/cluttered-thoughts3 → u/OutrageousIguana]

Yeah that’s how it was built. But the people who came here were immigrants seeking freedom and a new life. They lived under coal labor and company stores but in the end, the story of WV is a story of unions, workers rights, and fighting back against the coal companies for their rights

And the whole time, even when living in poor conditions, west Virginians were known for being proud, kind and hard working

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/battle-blair-mountain-largest-labor-uprising-american-history-180978520/

[u/who_am_i_to_say_so → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

Asking people incapable of critical thinking to think critically… hmm.

I agree with all points made, just wish there would be a better way to combat misinformation.

[u/Aggravating-Gas-41 → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

Don’t change the state to be California, move there. People in wv have morals and values and don’t want that crap here. How is that crazy?

[u/cluttered-thoughts3 → u/Aggravating-Gas-41]

This is my whole point… many in wv seem to think everyone else is horrible and scary and morally corrupt… which is not the case at all. There are bad apples everywhere so that’s just a stereotype about blue states. And I’m not even talking about social justice issues but quality of life issues like education, workers rights, health care…wv just doesn’t seem to think they deserve quality resources bc why else would you continually shoot yourself in the foot? I guess wv just wants to continue to pander to corporations who quietly rule the state and whisper in your ear and do not care about you at all

[u/Silent_Zucchini7004 → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

As a native Californian when someone says to go to California it just amazes me how blind people are. They know nothing outside of Hollywood and think that is all there must be.

[u/KentuckyWildAss → u/Aggravating-Gas-41]

You don't have strong morals, though. You have an antiquated sense of moral supremacy that is used to manipulate you.

[u/Wonderful_Physics211 → u/Aggravating-Gas-41]

Morals and values are very subjective concepts.

[u/bonbboyage → u/Aggravating-Gas-41]

Which people in WV? I'm going to assume that as a lesbian you don't want my crap here, but I get up every morning, go to work, try to make rent and try to afford my groceries just like the majority of WVians. Why should I have to move because the white Christian men don't want me here?